Handling of dental X-ray film



April 26, 1966 R. F. DODSON HANDLING OF DENTAL X-RAY FILM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1965 INVENTOR MBA-7977 700050 ATTORNEYS April 26, 1966 R. F. DODSON HANDLING OF DENTAL X-'RAY FILM Filed June 26, 1963 Foam-E 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNEYE United States Patent 3,247,774 HANDLING OF DENTAL X-RAY FILM Robert F. Dodson, 655 N. Center StI, Reno, Nev. Filed June 26, 1963, Ser. No. 290,853 10 Claims. (Cl. 95100) This invention relates to improvements in the handling of dental X-ray film and the like, and to an apparatus for use in their handling.

At the present time, dental X-ray film is handled for processing by means of metal hangers consisting of a metal bar which has attached thereto a series of metal clips into which the dental X-ray film are loaded. Heretofore, it has been necessary to hold the hanger and manually and separately depress each clip with one hand and either load unprocessed film or unload the film after the processing with the other hand. The time lost in this operation is readily apparent when considering a complete dental survey requires 25-50 individual films per patient, thereby necessarily using 2-4 hangers. This operation is normally performed under darkroom lighting and, in addition to the time consumed, often results in the improper placement of the film in their respective clips, thereby losing one or more of the films at the bottom of the processing tanks.

My invention eliminates all of these present disadvantages. It comprises a mechanical device which firmly holds the metal hanger and, by means of a plate opens an entire row of clips for loading or unloading. It also provides for guides which assure even and secure loading of the film.

An important object of the invention is therefore to provide for a more rapid and secure means of loading dental X-ray film on hangers.

A further object is to provide means for a more rapid unloading of the dental X-ray film' after processing. 7

Still another object is to provide a loader which is not only relatively small in size, but also inexpensive and simple to construct.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the description which follows.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of this invention with the film hanger in place,

FIG. 2 is an end view of the fixed support end,

FIG. 3 is an end view of the removable support end,

FIG. 4 is a cross-section at 44 with the hanger inserted, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-section at 5-5.

FIGURE 1 shows a standard dental film processing hanger 10, not a part of this invention. The hanger comprises a metal bar 11 with some means for hanging in a processing or drying tank. As seen here, the metal bar 11 is formed with a hook 12 at one end thereof. Along the axis of the bar 11 are a plurality of spring clips 13 which are rigidly attached by one of two handles 14 transversely to the axis and in pairs, one on either side of the bar 11. The clips 13 are positioned such that their gripping means are on a plane parallel to and face away from the bar 11. The dental X-ray film 15 is then normally attached by pressing the handles 14 together with the thumb and forefinger of one hand and inserting the and to the base by any known means.

he at any suitable angle.

Patented Apr. 26, 1966 rod 19. The shaft 18 and rod 19 can be attached together As shown here, the shaft 18 is rotatably attached to the base 16 by means of the L-tabs 20. The rotatable rod 19 can be prevented from removal from'the shaft 18 by means of a button or pin or the like attached to its end. For best operation,

the diameter of the rod 19 is approximately equivalent to the dimension between the handles 14 of the clips 13. Rigidly attached to the top of the rod 19 is an elongated plate 21. The plate 21 is sufiiciently wide to engage the free handles 14 on both sides of the bar 11 and sutficiently long to engage the entire row of clips 13. In its preferred form, the elongated plate 21 has a T-shape with a thumb grip 22 at either end of the T. The plate 21 may be bent upward and outward, as at 23, to provide an additional clearance when the rod 19 and plate 21 are rotated.

At the other end of the base 16, there is a releasable support 24 attached. The releasable support 24 com- .prises a fixed portion 25 and a rotatable clasp 26 attached .those of the film 15, and the channels 28 are separated by walls 30 having a thickness equal to the proper clearance between the films 15 as. indicated above. In their preferred form, the channels 29 are constructed such that the inner edges of the channel bottoms are adjacent the clips 13 when the hanger 10 is inserted and on a plane.

with their gripping means. The channel bottoms may The invention may also have abutments 31 placed as indicated and used to position the ends of the metal bar 11.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, the rod 19 and the plate 21 are rotated on the shaft 18 up and away from the base 16. The hanger 10 is then placed on the base with the hook end 12 of the bar 11 outside the releasable support 24 and between the abutments 31. The hanger 10 is then adjusted so that the metal clips 13 are aligned with the axes of the channels 29. The rod 19 and plate 21 are then lowered and the rod 19 is engaged with and on top of the metal bar 11. The clasp 25 is then rotated by its thumb grip 22 such that the detent 27 engages the rod 19 and the clasp 26 is engaged and held securely by the catch 28.

To load the hanger 10, the thumb grip 22 on the de sired T-end of the plate 21 is pressed downward toward the base, thereby rotating the rod 19 in its bore and detent 27 and engaging the free handles 14 of a row of clips 13 with the plate 21. With a row of clips 13 opened I formed in the fashion described. Even faster operation may be performed by lifting the entire device and-pressing together the base 10 and thumb grip 22 of the desired T-end between the thumb and fingers of one hand. By holding the device at various angles the films 15 will slide more rapidly into the clips 13 for loading, and for unloading an entire row of film 15 may be permitted to slide out at once.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention,

herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A device for loading and unloading of dental X-ray film from hangers having a bar with a plurality of film supporting spring clips attached in rows thereto, the device comprising: a base, a first support mounted at one end of the base, a second support mounted at the other end of the base, a rod operatively attached to and intermediate the supports, the rod being spaced from the base sufiicient to tightly grip the bar of a hanger between the base and the rod, and means for simultaneously holding open a row of spring clips of the hanger for loading and unloading of pieces of X-ray film.

2. A device according to claim 1 and further comprising individual guide means for the spring clips, the guide means defining a channel with respect to the base for proper alignment of a piece of X-ray film in a spring clip by insertion of the film piece into the clip through the channel.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the individual guide means each comprise upright spaced walls perpendicular to the rod, the spacing being equal to the width of a piece of dental X-ray film.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the rod is pivotably and rotatably mounted on one of the said supports, and the operative connection to the other support comprises a releasable clasp engaging the rod for tightly gripping of a hanger bar.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the holding open means comprises an elongate plate fixed longitudinally to the rod for rotation therewith, the longitudinal edges of the plate each engaging a row of spring clips for opening thereof on rotation of the edge toward the clips.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the plate includes a T-member transverse to the bar, the arms of the T-member including end gripping means for manual rotation of the plate and rod.

7. A device for loading and unloading film from hangers comprising a base, a first support mounted at one end of the base, a rod pivotably and rotatably attached at One end thereof to the said first support, a second support mounted at the other end of the base and including releasable means clasping the rod at its free end in a position to support a film hanger between the base and rod, wall means fixed to the base and perpendicular to the rod in its supporting position defining guide means with respect to the base for proper alignment of pieces of film upon insertion of said film pieces onto the hanger through the said guides, and an elongate plate fixed longitudinally to the rod for rotation therewith, the longitudinal edges of the plate engaging a hanger supported by the rod and base for simultaneously holding open the film holding means of the hanger.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the plate is in the shape'of a T, the arms of said T extending trans verse to the rod and including end gripping means for manual rotation of the plate and rod in both directions.

9. A device according to claim 7 wherein the clasping means of the second support comprises a rotatable clasp including a detent for receiving the rod to hold it in the hanger supporting position, and a retaining member for holding the pivotable clasp in a position to retain the rod.

10. A device according to claim 7 wherein the wall means comprise a plurality of upright spaced walls fixed to the base and perpendicular to the rod in its supporting position, the spacing of the Walls being equal to the width of pieces of film inserted into the hanger.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1949 Sardeson et al. l00 2/1950 Armstrong et al. 95100 

